Andy Hug
Encyclopedia
Andy Hug was a Swiss
Seidokaikan
and Kyokushin
karateka
and kickboxer from Wohlen. Hug was the K-1 World Grand Prix 1996 champion and runner up in 1997 and 1998
.
without ever seeing his son. He seldom saw his mother Madelaine Hug-Baumann, and together with his brother Charly and sister Fabienne, they grew up with his grandparents in Wohlen. He was six, when he started playing soccer and was also selected to the Swiss National Under-16 team. At eleven, he started practising karate
at Wohlen Karate school under Werner Schenker.
His death came unexpectedly. He was diagnosed with acute leukemia on August 17, 2000. On August 23 he fell into a coma and his illness was made public. Only 22 hours later Andy Hug died following breathing difficulties due to multiple organ failure. He was only 35 at time of his death. He left behind his wife Ilona and his son Seya.
Andy recorded his first international success in 1981 at the Dutch Kyokushinkai Karate Championships. Two years later, he took first place at the European Cup in Hungary
. In 1983, Andy took part in the Karate World Championships. Around eighty fighters from all over the world were at the start of the open weight class. Andy was able to battle his way through and reached the final sixteen. He made his second World Championships in 1987. In the semi-finals, Andy defeated his opponent Akira Masuda
and for the first time in the history of Kyokushinkai, a non-Japanese fighter, was taking part in the finals. Andy lost the fight by a controversial point decision to Shokei Matsui
.
The fifth World Championships of full-contact karate no weight division took place in 1991 at the Budokan, Tokyo, Japan. As early as 1988, Andy had become a trainer for the Swiss national team, thus offering his knowledge and experience to other competitors. In his third fight, Andy came up against Francisco Filho
. At the end of the round, as the bell rang, Filho landed a high kick on the side of Hug's head and knocked Andy to the floor. Mas Oyama confirmed that the technique was legal. It was later confirmed that Filho's kick had indeed struck after the bell rang, but he had started his move before the time was up and Filho was declared the winner.
Andy kept fighting in Japan with success and became extremely popular. The fans were impressed by his technical diversity, spectacular aesthetics, tactics and strength. On August 28, 1993, Andy married Ilona in Inwil
. At the same time he changed from Kyokushinkai to Seidokai karate, completing the step from being an amateur to becoming a professional fighter and star in Japan.
, founded K-1
in 1993. In 1994 Andy promoted his first K-1 Fight at the Hallenstadium in Zurich
, and went on to compete in a double main event called "K-1 Challenge" where he upset reigning WGP champion Branco Cikatic in a close fight.
Later that year Hug competed in his first WGP tournament, where he was favored by the Japanese fans having already defeated Branco Cikatic a few months earlier. But Andy was upset by American kick-boxer Patrick Smith via first round stoppage.
In the autumn of 1996, Andy was struggling within himself that he wasn't able to win the K-1 World Grand Prix
. In his second fight at the 96 WGP Finals he met Ernesto Hoost
and won by decision. In the final, Andy was matched up against Mike Bernardo
. After his two defeats to Bernardo in 1995 Andy was determined to beat him and was ultimately successful, winning via spinning low kick, securing his first and only WGP title.
Andy Hug reached the K-1 Grand Prix finals again in 1997, where he lost to Dutch kick-boxing legend Ernesto Hoost by decision. He made it to the 1998 WGP final as well, where he lost to Peter Aerts by KO, although he became the first fighter to ever make three consecutive WGP finals. (until matched by Semmy Schilt some years later)
1999 was the most successful year for K-1 since its inception. Record numbers of spectators were recorded for all tournaments. In the first half of that year, Andy provided his fans with sensational fights. However at the World Grand Prix, fate wrecked his plans. In the second bout, he was up against Ernesto Hoost. As early as in the first round, the groin injury that he had sustained a month earlier became acute. This handicap was so severe that he could not employ his legs as he was used to doing, and dropped a decision.
In Japan he was given the name "Blue-Eyed Samurai", even though he had brown eyes. He was the only K-1 fighter ever to be rewarded an honorary samurai title by K-1 founder Kazuyoshi Ishii.
Andy was also recognized for his axe kick and the spinning low heel kick, targeting the opponents thigh, was another trademark kick of his. In Japan, it was known as "the Hug Tornado" since it was rumored that no other fighter could perform it with the same perfection as Hug.
Andy defeated Mirko "Cro-Cop" Filipović
at K-1 Fight Night, on June 3, 2000, in Zurich, Switzerland. His last fight was against Nobu Hayashi on July 7, 2000.
, just two weeks short of his 36th birthday. Andy's body was cremated and his ashes deposited in the cemetery of the Hoshuin temple in Kyoto, Japan.
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
Seidokaikan
Seidokaikan
is a style of full contact karate, or Knockdown karate, founded by Kazuyoshi Ishii in 1980.-History:First formed in 1980 by Kazuyoshi Ishii, a former Kyokushin Karate practitioner who began his training under Hideyuki Ashihara in 1969...
and Kyokushin
Kyokushin
is a style of stand-up, full contact karate, founded in 1964 by Korean-Japanese karate master, who was born under the name Choi Young-Eui . Kyokushinkai is Japanese for "the society of the ultimate truth". Kyokushin is rooted in a philosophy of self-improvement, discipline and hard training...
karateka
Full contact karate
Full contact karate is a wide term used to differentiate between competition formats of karate where competitors spar full-contact and allow knockout as winning criterion, and those competitions that use light contact/semi contact point sparring where a knockout is regarded as a foul.The term is...
and kickboxer from Wohlen. Hug was the K-1 World Grand Prix 1996 champion and runner up in 1997 and 1998
K-1 World Grand Prix 1998
K-1 Grand Prix '98 Final Round was a martial arts event promoted by the K-1. The event was held at the Tokyo Dome in Tokyo, Japan on Sunday, December 13, 1998 in front of 63,800 spectators. It was the sixth K-1 World Grand Prix final involving eight of the world's best heavyweight fighters , with...
.
Biography and career
Andreas Hug was born on September 7, 1964, in Zurich, Switzerland. Andy's father, Arthur, was a foreign legionnaire, who died in ThailandThailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
without ever seeing his son. He seldom saw his mother Madelaine Hug-Baumann, and together with his brother Charly and sister Fabienne, they grew up with his grandparents in Wohlen. He was six, when he started playing soccer and was also selected to the Swiss National Under-16 team. At eleven, he started practising karate
Karate
is a martial art developed in the Ryukyu Islands in what is now Okinawa, Japan. It was developed from indigenous fighting methods called and Chinese kenpō. Karate is a striking art using punching, kicking, knee and elbow strikes, and open-handed techniques such as knife-hands. Grappling, locks,...
at Wohlen Karate school under Werner Schenker.
His death came unexpectedly. He was diagnosed with acute leukemia on August 17, 2000. On August 23 he fell into a coma and his illness was made public. Only 22 hours later Andy Hug died following breathing difficulties due to multiple organ failure. He was only 35 at time of his death. He left behind his wife Ilona and his son Seya.
Karate career
At the age of fifteen, he won the Swiss national 'Oyama Cup'. In November 1977 he was selected to represent the Wohlen Karate School during the National Team Championships.Andy recorded his first international success in 1981 at the Dutch Kyokushinkai Karate Championships. Two years later, he took first place at the European Cup in Hungary
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
. In 1983, Andy took part in the Karate World Championships. Around eighty fighters from all over the world were at the start of the open weight class. Andy was able to battle his way through and reached the final sixteen. He made his second World Championships in 1987. In the semi-finals, Andy defeated his opponent Akira Masuda
Akira Masuda
is a Japanese Kyokushin kaikan karateka. In March 1991 he completed the 100 man kumite supervised by Mas Oyama.He was born in 1962 in Kanazawa, Ishikawa, Ishikawa prefecture, Japan. In junior high school he was captain of the school judo club. When he was 16 years old he joined Kyokushin Kaikan...
and for the first time in the history of Kyokushinkai, a non-Japanese fighter, was taking part in the finals. Andy lost the fight by a controversial point decision to Shokei Matsui
Shokei Matsui
, also known by his Korean name of Moon Jang Gyu , is a master of Kyokushin karate and current Kancho of one faction of the International Karate Organization founded by Mas Oyama ....
.
The fifth World Championships of full-contact karate no weight division took place in 1991 at the Budokan, Tokyo, Japan. As early as 1988, Andy had become a trainer for the Swiss national team, thus offering his knowledge and experience to other competitors. In his third fight, Andy came up against Francisco Filho
Francisco Filho
Francisco Filho may refer to:* Francisco Filho , martial artist born in Bahia* Francisco Filho , football coach born in São Paulo...
. At the end of the round, as the bell rang, Filho landed a high kick on the side of Hug's head and knocked Andy to the floor. Mas Oyama confirmed that the technique was legal. It was later confirmed that Filho's kick had indeed struck after the bell rang, but he had started his move before the time was up and Filho was declared the winner.
Andy kept fighting in Japan with success and became extremely popular. The fans were impressed by his technical diversity, spectacular aesthetics, tactics and strength. On August 28, 1993, Andy married Ilona in Inwil
Inwil
Inwil is a municipality in the district of Hochdorf in the canton of Lucerne in Switzerland.-Geography:Inwil has an area of . Of this area, 70.8% is used for agricultural purposes, while 16.3% is forested. Of the rest of the land, 11.4% is settled and the remainder is non-productive...
. At the same time he changed from Kyokushinkai to Seidokai karate, completing the step from being an amateur to becoming a professional fighter and star in Japan.
K-1 career
The Seidokai Association, headed by Kazuyoshi IshiiKazuyoshi Ishii
is a Japanese master of Seidokaikan karate and founder of the K-1 fighting circuit, a widely televised international martial arts competition combining Muay Thai, karate, sanshou, taekwondo, kenpo, boxing, and kickboxing...
, founded K-1
K-1
K-1 is a defunct world-wide kickboxing promotion based in Tokyo, Japan founded by Kazuyoshi Ishii, a formerKyokushin karate practitioner. K-1 combines stand up techniques from Muay Thai, Karate, Taekwondo, Savate, San Shou, kickboxing, western-style boxing, and other martial arts...
in 1993. In 1994 Andy promoted his first K-1 Fight at the Hallenstadium in Zurich
Zürich
Zurich is the largest city in Switzerland and the capital of the canton of Zurich. It is located in central Switzerland at the northwestern tip of Lake Zurich...
, and went on to compete in a double main event called "K-1 Challenge" where he upset reigning WGP champion Branco Cikatic in a close fight.
Later that year Hug competed in his first WGP tournament, where he was favored by the Japanese fans having already defeated Branco Cikatic a few months earlier. But Andy was upset by American kick-boxer Patrick Smith via first round stoppage.
In the autumn of 1996, Andy was struggling within himself that he wasn't able to win the K-1 World Grand Prix
K-1 World Grand Prix
K-1 World Grand Prix, also known as the K-1 World GP, is an elimination kickboxing tournament that has been held annually since 1993 by the K-1 organization. Each year, K-1 holds various 16-men, 8-match grand prix style tournaments throughout the world to determine which 16 fighters will compete in...
. In his second fight at the 96 WGP Finals he met Ernesto Hoost
Ernesto Hoost
Ernesto Fritz "Mr. Perfect" Hoost is a Dutch former kickboxer and four-time K-1 World Champion. He made his debut in 1993 at the K-1 World Grand Prix 1993, where he came just one win short of the world title...
and won by decision. In the final, Andy was matched up against Mike Bernardo
Mike Bernardo
Michael "Mike" Bernardo is a South African former kickboxer and boxer from Cape Town. Bernardo is known as Beru-chan in Japan, where he has taken part in K-1 World GPs since 1994...
. After his two defeats to Bernardo in 1995 Andy was determined to beat him and was ultimately successful, winning via spinning low kick, securing his first and only WGP title.
Andy Hug reached the K-1 Grand Prix finals again in 1997, where he lost to Dutch kick-boxing legend Ernesto Hoost by decision. He made it to the 1998 WGP final as well, where he lost to Peter Aerts by KO, although he became the first fighter to ever make three consecutive WGP finals. (until matched by Semmy Schilt some years later)
1999 was the most successful year for K-1 since its inception. Record numbers of spectators were recorded for all tournaments. In the first half of that year, Andy provided his fans with sensational fights. However at the World Grand Prix, fate wrecked his plans. In the second bout, he was up against Ernesto Hoost. As early as in the first round, the groin injury that he had sustained a month earlier became acute. This handicap was so severe that he could not employ his legs as he was used to doing, and dropped a decision.
In Japan he was given the name "Blue-Eyed Samurai", even though he had brown eyes. He was the only K-1 fighter ever to be rewarded an honorary samurai title by K-1 founder Kazuyoshi Ishii.
Andy was also recognized for his axe kick and the spinning low heel kick, targeting the opponents thigh, was another trademark kick of his. In Japan, it was known as "the Hug Tornado" since it was rumored that no other fighter could perform it with the same perfection as Hug.
Andy defeated Mirko "Cro-Cop" Filipović
Mirko Filipovic
Mirko Filipović is a former Croatian heavyweight kickboxer, mixed martial artist, politician, and law enforcement officer. Filipović was a member of the Croatian Parliament from 2003 through 2007...
at K-1 Fight Night, on June 3, 2000, in Zurich, Switzerland. His last fight was against Nobu Hayashi on July 7, 2000.
Death
Andy Hug died on August 24, 2000, as a result of leukemiaLeukemia
Leukemia or leukaemia is a type of cancer of the blood or bone marrow characterized by an abnormal increase of immature white blood cells called "blasts". Leukemia is a broad term covering a spectrum of diseases...
, just two weeks short of his 36th birthday. Andy's body was cremated and his ashes deposited in the cemetery of the Hoshuin temple in Kyoto, Japan.
Titles and accomplishments
- Kickboxing
- 1996–2000 W.K.A.World Kickboxing AssociationThe World Kickboxing Association is one of the oldest and the largest amateur and professional sanctioning organizations of kickboxing in the world for the sport. Its official name is "World Kickboxing and Karate Association"....
World Muay Thai Super Heavyweight title (4 title defenses) - 1996 W.M.T.C. World Super Heavyweight title
- 1996 K-1 Grand Prix champion
- 1994–1996 U.K.F. World Super Heavyweight title (2 title defenses)
- 1996–2000 W.K.A.
- Seidokaikan
- 1993
Seidokan Karate World Cup (Lost to Masaaki SatakeMasaaki Satakeis a Japanese former super heavyweight karateka, kickboxer and mixed martial artist. He was one of the pioneering heavyweight fighters in K-1, after being a member of Kazuyoshi Ishii's Seido-Kaikan school and organization.-Biography and career:...
) - 1992
Seidokan Karate World Cup (Defeated Taiei KinTaiei KinKin Taiei is a Korean-Japanese light heavyweight karateka, kickboxer and mixed martial artist competing in K-1 and DREAM. He's also a karate instructor and a trainer for professional fighters...
)
- 1993
- Kyokushin
- 1991 5th Kyokushin World Open Karate Tournament last 32 (Lost to Francisco FilhoFrancisco Filho (martial artist)Francisco "Chiquinho" Filho is a Brazilian former Kyokushin Karateka and kickboxer. He is one of the few karate-ka to have successfully completed the 100 man kumite more than once....
) - 1991 6th European Championships in BudapestBudapestBudapest is the capital of Hungary. As the largest city of Hungary, it is the country's principal political, cultural, commercial, industrial, and transportation centre. In 2011, Budapest had 1,733,685 inhabitants, down from its 1989 peak of 2,113,645 due to suburbanization. The Budapest Commuter...
, Heavyweight (Lost to Michael Thompson) - 1989 5th European Championships in BudapestBudapestBudapest is the capital of Hungary. As the largest city of Hungary, it is the country's principal political, cultural, commercial, industrial, and transportation centre. In 2011, Budapest had 1,733,685 inhabitants, down from its 1989 peak of 2,113,645 due to suburbanization. The Budapest Commuter...
, Heavyweight (Defeated Michael Thompson) - 1988 1st Swiss Sursee Cup in SurseeSurseeSursee is a municipality in the district of Sursee in the canton of Lucerne, Switzerland. Sursee is located at the northern end of Lake Sempach, not far from where the Sure river enters the lake , hence the name "Sursee"....
(Defeated Kenji MidoriKenji Midoriis a Japanese Shinkyokushin and Kyokushin fighter. Midori is a student of Masutatsu Oyama, the founder of Kyokushin Karate. Midori eventually assumed leadership of the WKO Shinkyokushinkai to focus on improving knockdown Karate ....
) - 1987 4th Kyokushin World Open Karate Tournament (Lost to Akiyoshi Matsui)
- 1987
4th European Championships in KatowiceKatowiceKatowice is a city in Silesia in southern Poland, on the Kłodnica and Rawa rivers . Katowice is located in the Silesian Highlands, about north of the Silesian Beskids and about southeast of the Sudetes Mountains.It is the central district of the Upper Silesian Metropolis, with a population of 2...
, (Lost to Michael Thompson) - 1986 11th British Open in LondonLondonLondon is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, Heavyweight (Lost to Michael Thompson) - 1985 3rd European Championships in BarcelonaBarcelonaBarcelona is the second largest city in Spain after Madrid, and the capital of Catalonia, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of...
, Heavyweight (Defeated Klaus Rex) - 1985 Ibusz Oyama Cup in HungaryHungaryHungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
, Heavyweight (Defeated Michel Wedel) - 1985 Swiss National Open Championships Heavyweight (Defeated Klaus Rex)
- 1984 3rd Kyokushin World Open Karate Tournament final 16 (Lost to Akiyoshi Matsui)
- 1984 Swiss National Championships Heavyweight
- 1983 7th Dutch Open in AlkmaarAlkmaarAlkmaar is a municipality and a city in the Netherlands, in the province of Noord Holland. Alkmaar is well known for its traditional cheese market. For tourists, it is a popular cultural destination.-History:...
, Heavyweight final 16 (Lost to Flemming Jinzen) - 1982 Ibusz Oyama Cup in HungaryHungaryHungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
, Middleweight (Defeated Mark Niedziokka) - 1982 6th Dutch Open Middleweight final 16 (Lost to Kenneth Felter)
- 1982 2nd European Championships in LondonLondonLondon is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
final 16 (Lost to Jean Pierre Louisset) - 1982 Swiss National Championships, Middleweight (Defeated Gabriel Marxer)
- 1981 Oyama Cup (Defeated Heinz Muntweiler)
- 1981 5th Dutch Open in WeertWeertWeert is a municipality and city in the southeastern Netherlands. As of 2010, Weert had a population of 48,405. It lies on the Eindhoven–Maastricht railway line, and is also astride the Zuid-Willemsvaart canal.- Population centres :* Altweerterheide...
, Middleweight (Lost to Koen Scharrenberg) - 1981 4 Countries Team Tournament (Switzerland defeated Dutch team in finals)
- 1979 Oyama Cup
- 1991 5th Kyokushin World Open Karate Tournament last 32 (Lost to Francisco Filho
- Black Belt MagazineBlack Belt MagazineBlack Belt is an American magazine covering martial arts and combat sports founded in 1961 by Mitoshi Uyehara. During the early years of the publication, Uyehara was a hands-on owner and publisher...
- 2001 Honorary Award http://www.blackbeltmag.com/archives/719
Record
| Kickboxing Record | |
|---|---|
| Seidokaikan Karate record | |
Legend: |
|
See also
- List of K-1 events
- List of K-1 champions
- List of male kickboxers
- List of kickboxing organizations
External links
- Andy Hug - Official Website
- Andy Hug Foundation - The Foundation
- Profile at K-1K-1K-1 is a defunct world-wide kickboxing promotion based in Tokyo, Japan founded by Kazuyoshi Ishii, a formerKyokushin karate practitioner. K-1 combines stand up techniques from Muay Thai, Karate, Taekwondo, Savate, San Shou, kickboxing, western-style boxing, and other martial arts...
- Andy Hug Portrait